Partial List of Drought-tolerant Plants
The following is a short list of drought-tolerant plant material. This list is only a starting point, and not the final word. Growing conditions in your yard and maintenance techniques and timing affect the relative fire-resistance and drought tolerance of plants. Those which generally have some fire-resistance are noted, as well as those which may suffer freeze damage inland. Spp. indicates more than one species is commonly grown.
R = Plants with some fire-resistance
F = Plants which may freeze inland
| | Genus Species | Common Name |
| | Drought-tolerant Trees | |
| R | Arbutus unedo | Strawberry Tree |
| R | Ceratonia siliqua | Carob Tree |
| R | Cercis occidentalis | Western Redbud |
| . | Cercocarpus betuloides | Mt. Mahogany |
| R | Quercus agrifolia | Coast Live Oak |
| . | Pistacia chinensis | |
| R | Rhus lancea | African Sumac |
| | Drought-tolerant Shrubs | |
| . | Arctostaphylos spp. | Manzanita |
| R | Atriplex spp. | Saltbush |
| . | Berberis spp. | Barberry |
| . | Ceanothus spp. | California Lilac |
| R | Cistus spp. | Rockrose |
| R | Cotoneaster spp. | Cotoneaster |
| R | Cotyledon spp. | No common name |
| R | Excallonia spp. | Escallonia |
| R | Feijoa sellowiana | Pineapple Guava |
| R | Galvesia speciosa | Island Bush Snapdragon |
| . | Garrya elliptica | ‘Evie’ Garrya |
| . | Gaura lindheimerii | Garua |
| R | Heteromeles arbutifolia | Toyon |
| R | Nerium oleander | Oleander |
| R | Pittosporum spp. | Mock Orange |
| R | Prunus ilicifolia | Holly-Leaved Cherry |
| R | Prunus lyonii | Catalina Cherry |
| R | Punica granatum | ‘Nana’ Dwarf Pomegranate |
| R | Pyracantha | ‘Santa Cruz’ Pyracantha |
| . | Raphiollepis spp. | India Hawthorne |
| R | Rhamnus spp. | Coffee Berry |
| R | Rhus integrifolia | Lemonade Berry |
| R | Ribes viburnifolium | Evergreen Currant |
| | Drought-tolerant Groundcovers | |
| R, F | Aloe spp. | Aloe |
| R | Armeria spp. | Sea Pink |
| R | | Cposrosma kirkii |
| R, F | Drosanthemum floribundum | Ice Plant |
| R | Duchesnea indica | Mock Strawberry |
| R, F | Dymondia margaretae | No common name |
| R | Festuca rubra ‘Creeping’ | Creeping Red Fescue |
| R | Fragaria chiloensis | Wild Strawberry |
| R | Gazania spp. | Gazania |
| . | Hypericum calycinum | St. John's Wort |
| R | Liriope gigantea | Giant Turf Lily |
| . | Mahonia repens | Creeping Oregon Grape |
| R | Malephora crocea | Ice Plant |
| R, F | Myoporum parvifolium ‘Prostratum’ | Myoporuim |
| R | Phyla nodiflora | Lippia |
| R | Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’ | Creeping Rosemary |
| R, F | Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’ | Fan Flower |
| R, F | Sedum spp. | Stonecrop |
| | Drought-tolerant Perennials | |
| R | Achillea spp. | Yarrow |
| R, F | Aeonium spp. | Succulents |
| R | Agapanthus spp. | Lily of the Nile |
| R, F | Agave spp. | Agave |
| R, F | Aloe spp. | Aloe |
| . | Bergenia spp. | Bergenia |
| . | Centaurea gymnocarpa | Dusty Miller |
| R | Convolvulus Cneorum | Bush Morning Glory |
| R | Coreopsis spp. | Coreopsis |
| R, F | Crassula spp. | Jade Plant |
| R | Dietes spp. | Butterfly Iris |
| R | Diplacus spp. | Monkey Flower |
| R, F | Echeveria spp. | Hen and Chicks |
| . | Erigeron spp. | Eleabane |
| . | Erysimum linifolium | Wallflower |
| R | Exchscholzia californica | California Polly |
| . | Geranium spp. | Geranium |
| . | Helichrysum petiolaturm ‘nanna’ | Curry Plant |
| R | Hemerocallis (assorted) | Daylily |
| R | Heuchera maxima | Coral Bells |
| R | Iris spp. | Iris |
| R | Kniphofia uvaria | Red Hot Poker |
| . | Koeleria galuca | Blue Hair Grass |
| . | Lantana montevidensis (sellowiana) | Lantana |
| R | Lavandula spp. | Lavender |
| R, F | Limonium perezii | Statice |
| . | Linaria maroccana | Toad-flax |
| R | Nerine masonorum | Nerine |
| R | Oenothera berlandieri | Mexidan Evening Primore |
| . | Pelangonium peltatum | Ivy Geranium |
| R | Penstemon spp. | Penstemon |
| . | Perovskia atriplicifolia | Russian Sage |
| . | Romneya coulteri | Matilija Poppy |
| . | Salvia spp. | Sage |
| R | Santolina spp. | Lavender Cotton |
| . | Senecio spp. | Dusty Miller |
| . | Silene maritima | No common name |
| . | Sisyrinchium spp. | Eyed Grass |
| . | Stachys byzantina | Lamb's Ears |
| R | Trichostema lanatum | Woolly Blue Curls |
| R | Tulbaghia violacea | Society Garlic |
| . | Yucca spp. | Yucca |
| . | Zantedeschia aethiopica | Calla Lily |
| | Drought-tolerant Vines | |
| R | Jasminum spp. | Jasmine |
| . | Rosa banksiae | Lady Bank's Rose |
| R | Solanum jasminoides | Potato Vine |
| R | Tecomaria capensis | Cape Honeysuckle |
| R | Trachelospermum jasminoides | Star Jasmine |
| . | Witeria spp. | Wisteria |
Highly Flammable Plants:
Use these plants with extreme caution. They can be a hazard near buildings or wooden structures, and will need a higher level of maintenance. Keep any existing plants on this list clear of each other, free of any dry debris, and trimmed clear of any structures.
Those denoted with P are considered Pyrophtyes - they almost attract fire.
| Pyrophtyes | Genus Species | Common Name |
 | Highly Flammable Trees | |
| . Abies spp. | Fir |
| . Acacia spp. | Acacia |
| . Cedrus spp. | Cedar |
| . Chamaecyparis spp. except dwarf | Cypress, Cedar |
| . Cryptomaria japonica except dwarf | Cryptomeria |
| . Cupressus spp. | Cypress |
| . Cupressocyparis | Cypress |
| P | Eucalyptus cladocalyx | Sugar Gum |
| P | Eucalyptus globulus | BlueGum |
| P | Eucalyptus viminalis | Manna Gum |
| . Larix spp. | Larch |
| . Palms (if fronds left untrimmed) | Palm |
| . Oucea soo, | Spruce |
| P | Pinus spp. (including dwarf mugo) | Pine |
| . Schinus spp. | Pepper Tree |
| . Tamarix spp. | Tamarisk |
| . Taxodium spp. | Bald Cypress |
| . Taxus spp. except dwarf | Yew |
| . Thuja spp. | Arbor-Vitae |
| . Tsuga spp. | Hemlock |
| | Highly Flammable Shrubs | |
| P | Adenostoma fasciculatum | Chamis, Greasewood |
| P | Adenostoma sparisfolium | Red Shanks |
| . | Artemesia californica | California Sagebrush |
| P | Baccharis pilularis consanguinea | Coyote Brush |
| . Cytisus, Genista, Spartium | Brooms |
| . Dodonaea viscosa | Hopseed Bush |
| . Erigonum spp. | Buckwheat |
| P | Juniperus spp. | Juniper |
| | Highly Flammable Groundcovers | |
| P | Baccharis spp. (when overgrown) | Coyote Bush |
| . Hedera canariensis | Algerian Ivy |
| P | Juniperus spp. | Juniper |
| | Highly Flammable Perennials | |
| . Bamboo spp. | Bamboo |
| . Cortaderia selloana | Pampas grass |
| . Miscanthus spp. | Grasses |
| . Muehlenbergia spp. | Deer Grasses |
| . Pennisetum setaceum | Fountain Grasses |
| . Salvia melilifera | Black Sage |
These lists are in no way a "complete" list and do not intend to represent itself as such. The plants contained on this list are a compilation from many sources from around the state.
For more information about landscaping and selecting drought-tolerant, fire resistant plants contact your local nursery.
Also, read EBMUD's FIRESCAPE booklet about landscaping and structures designed for fire safety.
|
